Earlier this month, you may remember we received an email from the Master of Freedom of the Seas, Captain Rob Hempstead, in response to our especially assigned drawing of the vessel, which was presented aboard in October 2011, by our wonderful Volunteers @ Sea, Sue & Shelia.

Unfortunately due to a serve storm and rough seas, the Captain was extremly busy during their cruise and on this ocasion an official drawing presentation was not possible.

In his original email theMaster of Freedom of the Seas, Captain Rob Hempstead, said:

" Your generosity and thoughtfulness is amazing and I am honored and humbled to have received this special gift from you. I have since had the drawing professionally framed, which I received back from the frame shop just a few days ago, and it looks fantastic. "

He added:

" It was an unusual job for this frame shop to do such a long (7 feet) framing so it took a while longer than normal. I will try to find a place on board to have it displayed if at all possible. Getting it back to the ship will be a delicate operation as well, as now that it is framed it is quite fragile. Since we no longer have an art auctioneer on board the ability to have had it framed onboard was not an option."

Our especially assigned drawing of Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas, which was presented aboard the vessel on our behalf by our Volunteers @ Sea, Sue & Shelia during their Caribbean cruise in October 2011

We later replied to Captain Rob Hempstead's email and asked if he would be kind enough to send us a photograph of our especially assigned drawing in its frame, so that we could share it with you. On Christmas Day we received another email from the Captain and attached was a truly spectacular photograph of our drawing in its frame!

In his latest email, Master of Freedom of the Seas, Captain Rob Hempstead, said:

" It is currently hanging downstairs in my home, but my plan is to try and get it to the ship. Not an easy task as it is quite large and fragile. I am soon to sign back aboard Freedom of the Seas son once back aboard I will see about finding a suitable spot for it. "

Master of Royal Caribbean International's Freedom of the Seas, Captain Rob Hempstead, with our especially assigned drawing of the vessel which he has had professionally framed and is currently displayed in his home

" It was such a lovely surprise to receive an email from the Captain, with a photograph of my drawing attached on Christmas Day. The frame is splendid and it certainly makes the drawing look even more impressive! "

He added:

" I do hope that Captain Rob Hempstead will find a suitable location on board Freedom of the Seas to display the drawing, when he joins the ship again shortly."